Warden says 'too bad' after blunder

John Wellman, 59, approached the warden and pointed out the sign, recently set up in Watlington Street, but the warden replied that he could not cancel the ticket and walked off.

Mr Wellman, of Cartmel Drive, Woodley, is now faced with a £20 fine which increases to £40 if he does not pay within a fortnight.

The maintenance worker had parked his red Peugeot under the new sign at 10am and was inside a house in the street doing some repairs when the owner spotted the parking warden by Mr Wellman's car at 11.20am.

"I came out the house and spoke to the traffic warden and pointed out the sign," said Mr Wellman, "but the warden just said, ‘Oh, I didn't notice that, but it's too late now.'"

The warden gave him a fine for not having a resident's permit, despite the car being parked underneath the new sign which clearly states ‘2 hours - no return within 2 hours'.

Mr Wellman has yet to write an appeal letter to the council but said: "I think it's disgusting that I should have to do that because it's their fault. Why should I take the effort when I'm innocent? I went to the Civic Centre to complain but no-one would even come down to see me. I only got as far as reception."

Mr Wellman has made a video of his parked car outside the sign as evidence.

A council spokesman said: "Parking attendants cannot rescind tickets on the spot among other things for their own protection so that they cannot be pressurised into cancelling a ticket.

"Unfortunately the gentleman has to write in, but providing the facts agree with what he is